Thumb-hole-cutting machine



March 8 1927.

J A. STOCK THUMBHOLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1.925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 a I 1,620,299 Mallwh 8 9 1927' A. STOC THUMBHOLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15,1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 March 8, 1927. 1,620,299

J. A..$TOCK THUMBHOLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mjcrii r .March 8 192?.

1,620,299 J. A. STOCK THUMBHOLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan, 15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS A; STOCK, 0F CICEBO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 7. C. RITCHIE & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

THUMB-HOLE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed January The present invention concerns machines or mechanical structures of simple, eihcient and durable construction for cutting thumb or finger holes or recesses in the flanges or rims of pasteboardbox covers and the like, one" of the salientor leading" characteristics of a desirable physical embodiment of the inventionbeing its capacity for rapid and satisfactory work automatically carried out.

In such embodiment of the invention, the box covers are fedto the cutting mechanism on a suitable conveyor with their mouths disposed upwards in the same way in which they are delivered from the covering machines; and one of the particular features of the invention resides in the means for properly positioningsuch box covers in sequence 'witli relation to the thumb-hole cutting appliance.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a portable structure of comparatively few parts so designed, arranged, and associated together as to make adjus ment of the appliance readily accomplished for operation on box elements of different sizes and shapes.

For a full and complete understanding of the invention, a machine incorporating the same has'been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which should be considered in connection with the following detailed description of the structure, and throughout the several views of such drawings like ref erence character-s refer to the same parts.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the new machine Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical, cross sec tion on line 22' of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of that portion or part of the appliance indicated by the arrovvs33 of Figure 1.;

Figure 4k is an enlarged, vertical, cross section on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 ofFigure 6, with a part of the mechanism broken away;- 7 v Figure 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the appliance as viewed from the lefthand part of Figure 1, one of the'box-covers being shown in section;

a Figure 7- is an enlarged, vertical, cross section on line"7-7 of Figure 6 15, 1925. Serial No. 2,597.

Fi ures 8 and 9 are detail views of one of e thumbhole cutters;

Figure 10 is a horizontal, cross section through the lower portion of the machine;

Figure 11 is a detail section showing the cam mechanism for operating some of the parts of the device; and

Figure 12 is a perspective View of one of the boxcovers provided with thumb or finger holes.

By reference to these drawings, it will be perceived that the new and improved machine, which is portable and may be easily slid around on the floor, comprises a main, skeleton frame of suitable shape, having a table-top 72 secured thereto.

At one edge, thistable 72 has a U-shaped bar'22 fastened thereto by screws 23, 23, the outstanding ears of such bar being apertured to provide hearings to accommodate ashaft 24 on which two separated blocks 25, 25- are rocking-1y mounted, these elements 25' having riveted or otherwise fastened to them the inner ends of two relatively-long anglebars 26, 26, connected together by a fiat bar 27 about midway their length, and als joined together by another flat bar 28 mm their free ends.

This hinged, elongated extension is normally or automatically held in substantially horizontal position by an inclined turnbuckle-brace rockingly secured to the main frame at 31 at its lower end, and having. its upper part associated with a shaft 32 revolvable in hearings in two depending side-plates 38, 33, fastened against the outer faces of the companion, spaced angle-bars 26, 26, as is clearly shown in Figure 1.

At its outer end, each angle-bar 26 has a bearing-block 34, adjustably secured thereto by a screw-and-slot connection 35, the two members 34, 34, affording bearings for the shaft 86 of a drum or pulley 37, around which extends an endless, fabric belt 38,

which at the other end of the appliance encircles a similar drum 39 on a shaft 41 revolvable in bearings of a yoke-shaped member 42 having a vertically adjustable screwconncction 13 with a cross bar 44 of the frame, thepart 42 being held fixedly in posi tion when adjusted by a screw-and-slot connection 45- with the bar 44.

The shaft-41, at one end, is equipped with a sprocket-wheel 46 co-acting with a sprocket-chain 47 extending around a larger, lower sprocket-wheel 48 on a crossshaft 49 revolvable in bearings 51 and 52 on the main-frame, and fitted with a bevel gear 53, the teeth of which are in mesh with those of a companion bevel gear 54 on a shaft 55 at right angles to the shaft 49, rotatable in bearings 56, 57, (Figure 10), and equipped with a worm wheel 58 in mesh with a worm 59 on the shaft 61 of a suitable electric-motor 62 mounted in any approved manner in the lower portion of the frame.

The drive motor, through the connecting means specified, revolves the two drums 37 and 39, and consequently causes the proper and desired travel of the endless conveyor belt 38.

Above the latter, there are positioned two parallel, spaced, box guide-bars 63, 63, flared at one end to facilitate the reception of the box elements or covers between them, and near such flared end, each bar 63 is supported on a shaft or rod 64 secured thereto and extending through an aperture in a bracket 65 fastened to the top of the corresponding angle-bar 26, the part 64 being held in proper and desired adjustment in such hole by tightening orfastening screw 66.

Near its other end, each bar 63 has a screw-threaded rod 67 secured to it (Figure 5), such threaded element projecting through an aperture in a bracket-'68 mounted on table 72, the rod being held in adjusted relation by suitable nuts 69 and 71 engaging the opposite faces of the vertical portion of the bracket.

An upstanding bracket 78 is bolted to the top of the table 72 and is apertured in an intermediate, slotted portion for the reception of a shaft 74, the bracket including also a vertical bearing 75 overlying the table, which slidingly accommodates a rod or shaft 76 having a stop-collar 77, adjustably fastened thereto and designed and intended, by engagement with the top end of the bearing 75, to limit the descent of the shaft or rod.

At its lower end, this shaft, by means of a pin 81, has a plate 7 8 fixedly secured thereto, the plate having two aligned slots 7 9, 7 9 on opposite sides of the shaft, as is clearly indicated in Figure 5.

Two blocks 82, 82 are adjustably fastened to the underside of plate 78 (Figure 6) by screws 83 received or accommodated in the slots 79, and each element 82 has a main depending portion with avertical slot 84 (Fig ure 7) extended therethrough; a cutter-bar 85 with a substantially semicircular recess being fastened by screws to the lower portion of each block as is clearly indicated in detail in Figure 7 On shaft 86, supported in side walls of each block 82, a cutter-arm 87, of .the shape shown in Figures 8 and 9, is rockingly mounted, such arm being fitted with a cutter 88 fastened thereto by screws 89, the lower edge of the cutter being practically semicircular in shape, as depicted in Figure 9.

A curved link 91 connects each rock-arm 87 to one of two oppositely-disposed, outstanding arms 92, 92, on a sleeve 93 slidable on the upright shaft 7 6 and equipped at its opposite sides with square blocks 94 swiveled thereon, and each accomn'lodated in aslot 95 of a bifurcated head 96 of a lever 97 ful crumed on the shaft 74 and operated by a link 98 having a lower, forked end 99 (Figure 11) straddling and guided by the shaft 55, and supplied with an anti-friction roller 101 accommodated in a cam-groove 102 of a cam 103 mounted on and rotatable with the shaft 55.

It will be seen that the rotation of shaft 55 effects the oscillation of lever 97, all as will be readily understood.

A coiled spring encircling the lower part of shaft 76 is interposed between the plate 78 and the arms 92, such spring tending to rock the arms 87 into the inoperative positions depicted in Figure 6.

The edge of cam 103 co-acts with a roller 104 on the lower end of the upright bar 105 slidable in a bearing 106 and normally pulled downwardly by a. coiled, contractile spring 107 fastened at one end to the bar and at the other end to the bearing.

At its upper end, this bar carries a rightangle section 108109 on which is mounted a block 112 by means of a screw 111, this block having a split-clamp 113 for a small, upright rod 114, positioned midway between the box guide-bars 63, 63.

The purpose of this pin 114 is to stop or arrest the travel of the series of boxes 116, 116 between the guide-bars intermittently, the conveyor-belt traveling continuously so that the thumb-hole-cutting operation may be performed.

A stripper pin or bar 118 mounted on one of the guides 63 extends horizontally over that box beneath the thumbhole-cutting mechanism, as is shown mostclearly in Figures 5 and 6. v

The operation of the appliance occurs substantially as follows:

The box covers 116 are delivered in any suitable manner, as from a machine which manufactures them, onto the endless conveyor-belt 38 between the flaring ends of the guide-bars 63, and these box-covers travel to the left in an abutting or contacting series, as will be readily understood.

When the foremost box-cover reaches the proper or correct position for the performance of the thumbhole-cutting operation, its rear, upstanding rim or flange strikes the abutment 0r stop-pin 114, thus arresting the travel, not only of the first box-cover in lll) rocking of lever 97 and the descent of shaft 76 and all the parts Which it carries, the spring 100 preventing rocking of the cutter arms 87 until further downward travel of the shaft 76 is prevented or precluded by the engagement of the collar 87 with the top of bearing 75, whereupon further rocking of the arms 97 compresses spring 100, bringing about the inward rocking of the arms 87 and their cutters 88, which co-act with the cutting edges of the recesses 90 to remove semicircular sections from the opposite flanges of the first cover. 7

It is to be understood that the two bars 85, 85 are positioned apart a distance corresponding to the Width of the box-cover, and they therefore act as braces for the coverfianges or rims during the cutting action.

It will be perceived that these bars 85 are first projected into the box the proper amount, as determinedby the adjustment of the collar 77, and then the cutters 88 rock inwardly and simultaneously remove the semicircular parts of the rim.

Then the lever 97 moves upwardly, the cutter-arms 87 open up, and the shaft 76 and its various elements ascend, leaving the box element, the latter being prevented, from rising with the plates 85 by reason of the stripper 118.

Then the bar 106 rises, carrying the pin 114 upwardly above the top edge of the cover rim, and the conveyor-belt carries the series of box covers onwardly, the finished box-cover being delivered and the next boxcover being brought into position, but be fore it reaches such position, the pin 114 will have descendedto engage its rear flange or rim portion to locate the box correctlybeneath the cutting mechanism, as has been fully described.

It will be observed that all of the parts of this mechanism are adjustable so that they may be used with box elements of substantially different dimensions.

The invention is not limited or restricted to the exact or precise details of structure shown and described, but these may be modified within comparatively wide limits without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its material benefits and advantages. I claim 1. In a thumb-hole cutting appliance of the character described, the combination of a substantially-horizontal conveyor adapted to transport a series of flanged box elements with their flanges projecting upwardly, means to drive said conveyor continuously,

means to intermittently arrest the movement of the series of box elements While one of them is being acted upon by the thumbhole cutting means, and means to cut out thumb-hole sections from the flanges of said elements in succession.

2. In a thumb hole cutting appliance of the character described, the combination of a substantially-horizontal endless conveyor adapted to transport a series of flanged box elements resting thereon in contact with one another and with their flanges projecting upwardly, means to drive said conveyor continuously, means to intermittently arrest the movement of the series of box elements while one of them is being acted upon by the thumb-hole cutting means, and means to cut out thumb-hole sections from the flanges of said elements in succession.

3. In a thumb-hole cutting appliance of the character described, the combination of a. substantially-horizontal conveyor adapted to transport a series of flanged box elements with their flanges projecting upwardly, means to drive said conveyor continuously, means to intermittently arrest the movement of the series of box elements while one of them is being acted upon by the thumb-hole cutting means, and means to cut out thumb-hole sections from the flanges of said elements in succession, said arresting means entering one of the box elements to temporarily stop thefeed of the series of box elements during the cutting operation, in association with means to project such arresting means into and remove it from the box elements of the series in succession.

4t. In a thumb-hole cutting appliance of the character described, the combination of a substantiallyhorizontal endless conveyor adapted to transport a series of contacting flanged box elements resting thereon with their flanges projecting upwardly, means to drive said conveyor continuously, means to intermittently arrest the movement of the series of box elements while one. of them is being acted upon by the thumb-hole cutting means, and means to cutout thumb-hole sections from the flanges of said elements in succession, said arresting means entering one of the box elements to temporarily stop the feed of the series of box elements during the cutting operation, in association with means to project such arresting means into and to remove it from the box elements of the series in succession.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

' JULIUS A. STOCK. 

